Well, for ff related gifts from my non ff family, I've settled on asking for gift certificates from a certain place. FFP is usually what I specify, which is cool with me. It's easy for everyone, they do an excellent mail order business which means its easy for them to get the certificate mailed, and easy for me to order from a distance and get it shipped.

Sometimes Cabelas, but I'm just as likely to use that for hunting/shooting or clothes as I am FF stuff.

What I've learned is that for a non Fly fisher, it is impossible for them to understand your needs. You can specify an exact item. However, the stuff we want is usually only found a few specialty FF stores and they have no clue how to go about finding that. They're not gonna find it at Dick's or Walmart. And when they don't find it or find that it's kind of pricy, they substitute something else that they see as the same, but is in no way, shape or form the same to us.

I'm particular about my equipment. My tastes aren't necessarily expensive but they are specific. I'd rather do the shopping myself.

Shopping for my gear is half the fun IMO, and yes, I am particular about my gear too. At least once a year, but often twice, I will take a whole day off of work, get up early and go to Cabelas in the morning. I'll spend several hours in the store, taking my time, just looking at stuff and enjoying the non-weekend crowds. I usually make a full lap of the fishing/fly fishing section first just looking before I put anything in my cart or basket.

So I usually like to ask for gift cards too...just tend to work out the best for all involved. My side of the family is fine giving/receiving gift cards, but they don't fly as well on my wife's side of the family. I tried to branch out a little this year and gave my wife the suggestion of a new small stream rod for Christmas this year. Granted...I sent her an email with the exact webpage of the model and specs I wanted, but still, I'm trying at least...

In your case, a gift card/certificate to wherever it is you buy your gear may be a good option though. You could suggest to your parents that you make a day of it...they go shopping with you for your gear, get lunch, etc. I'm sure they'd appreciate the day with their son and you'd get exactly what you want and get the satisfaction of picking it out yourself and using the gift card as you see fit.

Just my $.02 worth of perspective, but hope it helps a little. Let us know what you end up getting!

My wife is VERY good with gifts. Her mantra is "a good gift is something the person wants but would never justify buying on their own." So she watches throughout the year at things I ogle (with no intention to buy). But she also understands my specific tastes, knows she can't understand all of the details and how they affect the gift, and lets me do the choosing.

Examples that I've gotten from her include my Dreamcatcher boo rod and the Richardson, among others.

In all cases, she took an in between approach, specifying what it was for but leaving the details to me. For instance, with the boo rod, she paid the maker, and in the box I recieved there was no rod. Instead, it was a hat, t-shirt, and a note from the maker explaining the situation and saying to meet with him to test various rods and discuss what I wanted him to make for me.

With the Richardson, it was a gift certificate to FFP, and she not only gave one to me, but got her parents to do the same, so a combined gift. She told me it was for a Richardson, so that's what I was to use it for. I was not permitted to use it for replacing waders or tying materials or anything boring like that. But the different models, number of trays, foam vs. compartments, brand of floatant I use, and all of those other little details were beyond her ability to make intelligent decisions for me, so I could go and choose all of that.

I ended up with EXACTLY what I had always wanted but could never justify, and exactly to my specific tastes.

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Sure, we can assiduously three-quarter our wets down stream, mend, and wait out each fly swing, which to my way of thinking, anyway, relegates to the angler to role of butler, rather than nemesis.

I have been advised to hold off on the Greys 10fter till someone buys their 11ft. Told I would get a pretty sweet deal on it. A 10ft BIIIx is going to be a little to much money for me, when I will only use it in the winter. Heck, that is the only time I know I will nymph 99% of the time.

Posted on: 2011/10/31 20:59

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“My mom is being eaten by a dog and there’s nothing I can do!”

Been watching this thread but waited to jump in ‘cause I did not want to hijack it. Anyway, I have a similar situation and would like some advice. It’s our 40th wedding anniversary and my better half is after me to decide what I want. Think I decided on a 10 foot , 4 weight and have been looking at the Orvis Helios but then HA mentioned how much he liked the Cabelas CZN and the Streamflex, someone else mentioned the Cortland Brook. I have a Cabelas 2 piece 9’ for 5 weight and really like it but it gets heavy by the end of the day and packs too long for my car. Guess my questions are:Will an extra foot make much difference in fishing ? I fish Penns, Spring, Breeches, Clarks, and Little Lehigh both wet and dry?

There is quite a bit of price difference between the Helios and the rest of the rods, is it worth the difference? Thanks for your help, Buffalo

I'm a broken record on here....cast before you buy! I have never cast a 10' rod that handles all types of fishing (dries, wets, streamers and nymph) as well as a 9' foot rod. A trout weight 10' rod is great for nymphing but often falls short on other types of fishing. From your post, it sounds like you are looking for a more all-purpose rod and not a specialty one. Hard to beat a 9' 5weight as an all-arounder.